IPL 2026 [WATCH]: Virat Kohli jokingly calls Venkatesh Iyer ‘Allan Donald’ during RCB’s net practice

Pre-season training camps are usually all business, drills, fitness sessions, tactical discussions, and plenty of hard work behind closed doors. But every now and then, a moment sneaks out that captures the spirit of a dressing room better than any press conference ever could. That is exactly what happened at Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s pre-season nets, when a short clip posted on RCB’s official social media stopped cricket fans in their tracks.

Venkatesh Iyer’s move to RCB and what he brings to the table

Venkatesh Iyer was picked up by RCB for ₹7 crore at the IPL 2026 auction, having previously been a key part of the Kolkata Knight Riders setup. In his time with KKR, he played 62 matches and scored 1,468 runs as a left-handed batter, averaging a strike rate of 137.32 with one century and 12 fifties to his name.

But what has always made Iyer interesting is that he is not just a batter. His ability to bowl at a decent pace and contribute with the ball adds a layer of flexibility that any T20 side values. RCB head coach Andy Flower has already highlighted Iyer’s all-round utility as crucial to the team’s balance, and going by the nets footage, Iyer seems to be taking that responsibility seriously.

Virat Kohli terms Iyer as Allan Donald

Iyer was seen bowling in the nets and nailing a precise yorker that sends the off-stump flying. Standing nearby and watching it unfold is none other than Virat Kohli, who reacts immediately with a grin and drops a reference that no Indian cricket fan would miss. Kohli called out to Iyer saying “Venkateshwar, tu toh Allan Donald bana hua hai” — comparing him to the South African pace legend right there in the middle of a practice session.

Here is the video:

Wake up 12th Man Army, a new nick name just dropped. 🤭🤭

Watch the video for what VK said. 😂🔥

This is Emmvee presents RCB Shorts.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/GjhdlJv2TM

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 26, 2026

RCB to kick off IPL 2026 campaign against SRH

For those unfamiliar with the name, Allan Donald is widely regarded as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers to ever play the game. The South African, nicknamed “White Lightning,” terrorized batters throughout the 1990s and early 2000s with his searing pace, accuracy, and ability to generate sharp bounce on any surface. He took 330 Test wickets and was instrumental in South Africa’s rise as a cricketing powerhouse after their return to international cricket.

So when Kohli, a man who has faced the best bowlers in the world across formats, casually drops that name while watching a net session, it is not something you brush aside. It was clearly said in good humour, but the underlying point was clear: Iyer was bowling with genuine pace and precision, enough to earn a reaction from one of cricket’s most competitive minds.

RCB begin their title defence against Sunrisers Hyderabad this Saturday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, and if the energy coming out of their pre-season camp is anything to go by, the defending champions are going into IPL 2026 in a very good headspace indeed.